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Post by neverland on Jul 16, 2017 19:50:36 GMT -5
I bought a Micro flatbed off eBay from a seller with 100% rating. The posting said it was used and "appeared to have been run". Run nothing! Examining it tonight, every wheel is covered with gunk that's a devil to remove. I've tried 90% alcohol on a cotton swab with marginal results. No way am I running this car on my tracks. Any suggestions how best to clean them?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2017 20:07:46 GMT -5
Why not remove the wheels and let them soak in alcohol or soapy water.
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Post by ztrack on Jul 16, 2017 20:11:03 GMT -5
This is a very typical problem. The MTL wheels really hide gunk. I use a small brass brush and run the car over it to clean the wheels. If you have the Kaddee Speedi Cleaner, this will work. But then the problem is that the plastic wheels can get micro-scratches which only causes gunk to build up faster. I would seriously considering upgrading to metal wheels offered by Full Throttle. You can't go wrong with this upgrade. You will get better operation plus ease of cleaning.
Rob
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Post by shamoo737 on Jul 16, 2017 21:32:30 GMT -5
I would change out the wheels too, but if you want to keep your current wheels, use a round toothpick to scrape the gunk out. It works better is you cut the tip of the toothpick into a chisel shape.
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Post by tjdreams on Jul 16, 2017 21:42:57 GMT -5
Quicker and easier to just replace the wheels with uncle wills or Fox Vally Wheels. The metal wheel sets will roll better and attract less dirt. Buy the larger quantity packs it will be cheaper per wheel set and you will have some on hand for the next time.
David
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Post by neverland on Jul 18, 2017 11:27:54 GMT -5
Quicker and easier to just replace the wheels with uncle wills or Fox Vally Wheels. The metal wheel sets will roll better and attract less dirt. Buy the larger quantity packs it will be cheaper per wheel set and you will have some on hand for the next time. David The seller was kind enough to refund my money & told me to keep the flatbed, so now I need new wheels. Problem is I don't know what size wheels to order! I'm new to the hobby & Fox Valley lists 33" & 36". Can you educate me as to how I determine size? The Micro Trains model # is 14505-2. |
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Post by BAZman on Jul 18, 2017 11:48:43 GMT -5
33" is the standard wheel for most all rolling stock. Fox Valley Models part number is: FVM 090 www.zscalemonster.com/fox-valley-models/4 per car (you will be changing a *lot* more after you realise how much better a car rolls ! |
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Post by tjdreams on Jul 18, 2017 16:10:16 GMT -5
Like Greg and Jeff said Most Rolling Stock will use 33" wheels. Get the 100 pack you will not regret it. I always put the plastic wheel sets right in the box the car came in under the molded tray the car sits in. That way the original wheels stay with the car and if i ever lose a set at the show i can use them as a replacement until i can get another metal wheel set.
Metal Wheels can make a huge difference in performance.
Only mods i did to the cars in the following video was to swap in Metal wheels sets and swap out some of MTL's sorry looking coal loads for some nicer looking Hay Brothers loads
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Post by cwrr on Jul 18, 2017 16:41:01 GMT -5
Holy Moly!! How many cars were on that train?!?!
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Post by cwrr on Jul 18, 2017 16:42:47 GMT -5
Oh, sorry. Just saw the "130 Hoppers" in the upper left corner, I was so mesmerized by the train!!
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Post by shamoo737 on Jul 18, 2017 18:29:58 GMT -5
Don't you love triple headed train with 5 boxcars in HO 😄
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Post by ugeesta on Jul 18, 2017 20:33:02 GMT -5
Okay, slight thread drift. I have a couple old Kaydee pieces of rolling stock with plastic wheels and Marklin couplers. Can I replace the old trucks with AZL truck or would I have to get new MTL trucks and then replace the plastic wheels.
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Post by markm on Jul 18, 2017 20:46:39 GMT -5
Yes, the AZL or MTL trucks can replace the Kaydee ones. You might want to do a bit of research into the correct truck for the cars you have. If I remember correctly, the Kaydee trucks use a coupler box compatible with the raw couplers, so you wouldn't need to upgrade to a full truck.
Mark
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Post by ugeesta on Jul 19, 2017 11:12:26 GMT -5
Great, thanks for the info. I will likely go the touch replacement route to lower my frustration level.
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